Film-winder.



A. F. HETHERINGTON.

FILM wmnga. APPLICATION HLED NOV. 28, I914.

hwfi fiwa Patented. M11120, 1915.

fwwizzr THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, U, L.

" an snares rad an" oration,

ARTHUR F. HETHERINGTON, OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW

JERSEY.

FILM-WINIDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20 1915..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. HETHER- INGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Franklin township, county of Somerset, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment in Film-Winders, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in film-reversing devices, and particularly to film-reversing devices for the films used in projecting machines used in the ex hibition of moving pictures.

In exhibiting moving picture film, the film to be exhibited is run from one reel or spool through the machine and wound as it comes through the machine onto a second reel or spool. To again exhibit this film, it is neces sary that the film be reversed, that is, unreeled or unwound from the reel onto another reel, so that it can be again fed through the machine. It has been proposed to efi'ect the reversal of an exhibited film while another film is being exhibited, various devices for effecting this having been suggested. In these constructions, however, the reversal of a reel of exhibited film is carried on at the same rate of speed as reeling up of a film that is being exhibited. The films used for exhibiting motion pictures are not all of the same length, but are used in various lengths, as one thousand feet, eight hundred feet, and even lengths of less dimensions. Furthermore, even where an exhibitor is using films of the same length, as for instance, a thousand feet, after these films become used somewhat they become torn or otherwise unfit for use, and sections of them have to be removed and the ends joined together. This repairing shortens the length of the film. It may happen that an operator has exhibited a thousand foot length of film which is to be reversed during the next film exhibiting operation. This next film, however, may be of a considerably shorter length, as, for instance, eight hundred feet. To effect the full reversal of a thousand feet, therefore, it would be necessary for the operator to continue the manipulation of the machine after he was through exhibiting the shorter length. This is disliked by the operators and is disadvantageous for this and other reasons.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a film-reversing device in which one film is reversed during the exhibition of another and in which the reversed film is reversed or rewound at a sufiiciently higher rate of speed than the exhibiting film is wound on its reel so that the film which is to be reversed will have its complete reversal efiected before the film which is moving through the exhibiting machine has been entirely exhibited.

For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of the same will be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section illustrating the invention in connection with so much of a projecting machine as is necessary for an understanding thereof, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In these drawings, the lens portion of a projecting machine of a usual type is shown, the lamp and accompanying parts being omitted as being unnecessary for an understanding of the invention. As illustrated, the machine is or may be supported on a table 1 on which is a base 2, the lens portion of the machine being supported on this base through suitable standards or legs 4L, 5, or in any other suitable manner.

Located above the lens portion of the machine, there is a reel-box 6 of any suitable fireproof construction in which is rotatably mounted a reel 7 on which is carried the film to be exhibited, this box 6 being supported in any suitable manner, as on an extension or leg 5. The film is drawn from this box between guiderolls 8 of the feeding and forwarding mechanism of the machine, this mechanism being more or less diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing, and is shown vas operated by a hand crank 9 through a train'of gears 10, 11 and 12. After leaving the machine the film is directed to a receiving reel which is driven in any suitable manner from the film-forwarding devices, as by a pinion 13 mounted on a bracket 14 supported on the base 2 and driven from the gear 12. From this pinion is drivena receiving reel, hereinafter referred to, by means of a belt 15 running over a pulley 16 mounted on the stud on which the gear 13 is carried.

Devices constructed in accordance with the invention will include means whereby an exhibited film may be reversed while exhibited film is wound. Furthermore, the

construction and arrangement of the various parts will be such that they can be readily added to a machine in use without changing such machine, and may be incorporated in anew machine without changing the machine as designed. 7 These means preferably and generally include a suitable fireproof box or casing having therein a receiving reelmounted to rotate, a second reel suitably mounted to rotate, this second reel being preferably driven through suitable connections from the driving'means forthe first one, and a third reel adapted to hold a length of exhibited film.

In the' drawings, the invention is illustrated in connection with a reversing mechanism of such type, and there is provided a 7 receiving easing or box of fireproof eonstruction which is or may be mounted on a bracket17 secured to the underside of the machine table 1, before referred to, so that it may be brought closely adjacent to the film-forwarding mechanism. This casingis, as shown, preferably formed in two parts 18, l9suitably secured together so that they can be opened, as by swinging the part 18 away from the part 19,'these parts being secured together by hinges 3. Each of these parts is of sufiicient width to hold the film reels and the reel-supporting and driving devices, and is'of sufficient depth to permit the mounting in one part thereof of two 'reels superposed.

In one sideof this casing, as the side 19,

is located a film-receiving reel 20 mounted fee so as to be rotated in any suitable manner, the film coming from the film-forwarding devices being received on this reel. In the particular construction illustrated, this reel 'ismounted so as to rotate therewith on a spindle 21 supported in a hub 22 projecting from the outside of the box and having at its end outside the box a driving pulley 23, thispulley being driven from the film-forwarding devices through belt 15, as before referred to. V V

7 Mounted in the side 18 of the box is a fixed stud or spindle 24 secured to the. box

7 by a'braeket 25, on whichis rotatable a reel 26, this reel carrying a length of film which has been exhibited and which is to be reversed. Also mounted in the part 18 of the boxis a second spindle 27, this latter spindle being mounted in the box by means of a bracket 28 suitably secured in the wall of the box. This spindle 27 is a rotatable, spindle and is provided with a key or feather 29, and is adapted to receive, so that it will rotate therewith, a reel 30, this reel 30 receiving the film length from the reel 26 and reversing the film carried by this reel.

While various means may be employed for driving the spindle 27, in the best constructions this spindle will be driven from the spindle 21, before referred to. Where the spindle is, furthermore, so driven, the

connections between the two spindles will preferably be gear connections, and these connections will be of such character that the spindle 27 will be driven at a faster speed than the spindle 21, so that a longer length of film may be rewonnd from reel 26 onto reel 30 than is delivered to reel 20, so as to compensate for rewinding long films while shorter films are being exhibited. The proportion between the gearing used for driving these spindles may, of course, be varied as desired, but a proportion of 2 to 1 will generally be found suilieient to compensate for all differences in film lengths.

The reels employed for carrying motion picture films, as now generally constructed, are provided with sidefianges having small central openings through which the spindles are passed when they are placed in the machine. In order that the reels now in use may be employed with the present invention, when gearing is employed to drive the spindles, provision is made whereby the gearing may be temporarily removed while the reels are placed in position. This may be effected in various ways, but inthe particular construction illustrated, the spindle 21 is provided with a gear 31 keyed on the end of the spindle and held in position by a pin 32 passing through a small hole drilled in the end of the spindle. Meshing with the gear 81 is a gear 33 on the end of spindle 27 and held in position thereon by a pin 3% passing through a small hole drilled in the spindle end. This gear 33 and the gear 31 are in the construction illustrated in the proportion of 2 to 1.

The operation of the improved film-reversing deviceis as follows: Assuming that a reel of film has been exhibited, and the film wound on the reel 20 in the box, the box is then opened, the gear 31 removed and the reel 20 removed from the spindle 21, an empty reel being replaced thereon and the gear put back in position, and a new film, which is to be exhibited, is started on this reel so as to be wound thereon when the machine is again started up. The gear 33 is also removed from spindle 27 and empty reel 30 placed thereon and the gear put back in its place. The filled reel which is to be re- .1.

1,136,335 lair ready for exhibition at the same time reel 20 is receiving the film being exhibited. As the ratio of the gearing is as before stated 2 to 1, a film one thousand feet long can be reversed while a film only five hundred feet long is being exhibited, and thus, to reverse a film longer than the film being exhibited, the necessity of the operator running the machine when not exhibiting is obviated.

It will be understood that changes and variations may be made in the particular construction illustrated and described, and that the invention is not to be limited to such construction nor to the particular type of film-reversing device with which it has been described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a film-reversing device, the combination of film-forwarding devices, a casing supported closely adjacent thereto to which the film is forwarded, a spindle in the casing driven from the forwarding devices, a second rotary spindle in the casing, a reel there on, an idle spindle in thecasing, a reel thereon, from which film may be rewound on the reel carried by the second spindle, and connections between the first spindle and the second spindle from driving the same, said connections including means for driving the second spindle at a higher speed than the first spindle.

2. In a film-reversing device, the combination of film-forwarding devices, a casing supported closely adjacent thereto to which the film is forwarded, a spindle in the casing driven from the forwarding devices, a second rotary spindle in the casing, a reel thereon, an idle spindle in the casing carrying a reel from which film is adapted to be wound on the reel on the second spindle, and gearing between the first and second spindles proportioned to permit the second spindle to be driven at a higher rate of speed than the first spindle.

3. In a film-reversing device, the combination of film-forwarding devices, a casing supported closely adjacent thereto to which the film is forwarded, a spindle in the casing driven from the forwarding devices, a second rotary spindle in the casing, a reel thereon, an idle spindle in the casing carrying the reel from which film is adapted to be wound on the reel on the second spindle, a slip gear 011 the first spindle, and a smaller slip gear on the second spindle meshing therewith to cause the second spindle to be driven at a higher rate of speed than the first spindle.

4. In a film-reversing device, the combination with means for forwarding an exhibited film, of a reel to which the film is forwarded, reel rotating means therefor operated from the film-forwarding means, a second rotatably mounted reel, an idle spindle carrying a reel from which film may be rewound on the second reel while an exhibited film is being received on the first reel, and connections for rotating the second reel from the first reel rotating means at a higher speed than the first reel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR F. HETHERINGTON.

Witnesses:

A. WHITE, P. B. PHILIPP.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

